Shank and head mounting fixture

ABSTRACT

A clamping fixture especially suited for holding the shank and head portions of a ring or the like, during manufacture or repair of jewelry, particularly engagement rings, or related style solitaires. The ring shank, or annular portion, is externally engaged by two members, one on each side of a stud which internally engages the ring shank. The portion to be attached, i.e., the ring head, is held in engagement therewith by a movable anvil. Convenient handles and locking means are provided for moving the work engaging members to, and holding them in, a desired position. Adjusting means are also provided for maintaining the various elements in desired respective positions and orientations.

United States Patent 1 Haven Apr. 17, 1973 SHANK AND HEAD MOUNTINGFIXTURE [76] Inventor: Robert F. Haven, R.D. No. 1 Stock Road, Hannibal,NY. 13074 [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 205,030

[52] US. Cl ..269/224, 29/ 10 [51] int. Cl. ..B25b 1/06, B25b 1/16,1323p 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..81/7, 8; 29/10;

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,009,895 12/191 1 Clow Q...29/10 1,519,040 12/ l 924 Nedland 2,316,073 4/1943 Kellogg ..269/224 XPrimary Examiner0thell M. Simpson Attorney-F. P. Keiper et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A clamping fixture especially suited for holding theshank and head portions of a ring or the like, during manufacture orrepair of jewelry, particularly engagement rings, or related stylesolitaires. The ring shank,

or annular portion, is externally engaged by two mem bers, one on eachside of a stud which internally engages the ring shank. The portion tobe attached, i.e., the ring head, is held in engagementtherewith by amovable anvil. Convenient handles and locking means are provided formoving the work engaging members to, and holding them in, a desiredposition. Adjusting means are also provided for maintaining the variouselements in desired respective positions and orientations.

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INVEN TOR.

BY gwpxug v ATTORNEY SHANK AND HEAD MOUNTING FIXTURE The presentinvention relates to work holders especiallyuseful in the manufactureand repair of jewelry, such as rings, and the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel'and improvedvise which will hold in firmly engaged relation, a ring-like portion ofa piece of jewelry and another element to be mounted thereon or attachedthereto. 1

Another object is, to provide a holding fixture for an annular-memberand a smaller element to be attached thereto, wherein the elements arefirmly clamped in a desired relative position while allowing maximumaccessibility to the work area and movement of the clamped elements toany desired orientation.

A further object is to provide a jewelers vise having improve handle andlocking means for moving the work-holding members between engaged anddisengaged positions withrespect to the workpieces and for releasablyretaining them in such positions.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear morefully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understoodthat the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and arenot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, showing the work-holding elements in the open, or disengagedposition;

FIG. 2 is also a front elevational view showing the elements in theclosed position with work pieces held thereby;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view, as seen from the line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. I.

The apparatus of the invention is shown in FIG. I mounted on the edge ofa shelf or table by means of a conventional clamp 12 having rod 14extending therefrom. An opening is provided through rod 14 near the endopposite the clamp for accommodating arm 16 j of the vise. Wing bolt 18is threaded into the end of rod I4 to clamp arm 16 with the vise in thedesired rotational orientation about the axis of arm 16. Base 20 of thevise is of generally C-shaped configuration, and is retained in adesired rotational orientation about the axis of wing bolt 22 (FIG. '3)by tightening the bolt to hold base 20 and arm 16 in frictionalengagement.

Arms 24 and 26 are pivotally mounted by means of screws 28 and 30,respectively, to extend adjacent to the opposite sides of base 20.Locking screw 32 extends through elongated opening 34 in arm 24 and isthreaded into base 20. Likewise, locking screw 36 extends throughelongated opening 38 in arm 26 and is threaded into the base. Thus, botharms 24 and 26 may be moved about their respective pivotal mountings toan extent limited by the length of openings 34 and 38 when lockingscrews 32-and 36 are loosened. The rotational positions of the arms arefixed with respect to base 20 by tightening the locking screws.

A pair of work-engaging members 46 and 42 extend from the end of arm 24opposite the pivotal mounting thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, a V-shapednotch is formed in the edges of members 40 and 42 which face the innerpart of the base. Stud 44 extends fixedly from base 20 between members40 and 42. Handle 46 is pivotally mounted by means of screw 48 on base20. End portion 50 of handle 46 extends around the inner edge of base 20and engages an edge of arm 24. The shape of end portion 50 and mountingof handle 46 is such that rotation of the handle about its pivotalmounting serves to rotate arm 24 about its pivotal mounting, within thelimits established by slot 34, when locking screw 32 is loosened. Thatis, end portion 50 acts as a cam in moving arm 24 as handle 46 isrotated. Spring-52 is connected between pin 54 on base 20 and pin 56 onarm 24 to bias the arm toward counterclockwise rotation about itspivotal mounting, rotation of handle 46 serving to rotate the armclockwise against the biasing force.

Mounted on the end of the side of base'20 adjacent arm 26 is L-shapedbracket 58. Screw 60 extends through slot 62 in the bracket and isthreaded into base 20, thereby allowing adjustment of the lateralposition of the bracket along the length of the slot. Cylindrical guide64 is affixed to plate 66 which is adjustably engaged with bracket 58 byscrew 68, extending through slot 70 in the plate. Post 72 is slidable inguide 64 and may be reciprocally moved by rotation of handle 74 on theend of arm 26 which extends across a slot in the post. Anvil 76 iscarried on the end of post 72 facing the inner part of base 20 andprovides the other workpiece engaging member. As best seen in FIG. 2,annular workpiece 75, which normally will comprise a ring shank or otherring-like portion of a piece of jewelry, is held firmly by'being engagedbetween stud 44 on the inside and members 40 and 42 on the outside.Workpiece 75 is placed in this position by loosening locking screw 32,rotating handle 46 to cause rotation of arm 24 against the bias ofspring 52 to the position of FIG. I, placing the workpiece over stud 44,counter-rotating handle 46 to allow rotation of arm 24 by spring 52until members 40 and 42 engage the workpiece, and tightening lockingscrew 32. This may be accomplished in seconds, and does not requirecareful manual holding or positioning of the annular workpiece since thenotches in members 40 and 42 serve to position it automatically.

The other workpiece 77, such as a ring head, or the like, is placed onanvil 76 and handle 74 is rotated to bring the two workpieces into firmcontact. The workpieces are, of course, two initially separate elements;in rings of the type shown the ring shank is normally split and the headis forced within the split portion, as shown, to achieve a force fittedcontact. Locking screw 36 is then tightened and the workpieces are heldfirmly in position, thus freeing both of the operators hands for work onthe jewelry without holding the parts thereof. Arm 78 extends fixedlyfrom guide 64 and is provided as a leverage member for manual movementof handle 74. That is, for movement of anvil 76 to bring workpiece 77into firm contact with workpiece 75, the operator manually engages bothhandle 74 and arm 78 and presses them toward one another. Only handle 74will move, of course, being on the end of rotatable arm 26, but theforce applied to the handle is balanced by the force applied to arm 78.Thus, undesirable forces tending to dislodge the vise from its positionare eliminated.

Also preferably provided on the face of anvil 76 is centering hole 80,shown in FIG. 5. This is a relatively small,shallow depression in theface of the anvil which may be used as a visual aid in centering itemson, or with respect to, the face of the anvil.

While several forms of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting fixture for holding two initially separate workpieces incontact as operations are performed thereon, one of said workpiecesbeing of annular configuration, said fixture comprising:

a. a base;

b. a first work-engaging member projecting outwardly with respect to oneside of said base for engagement with the interior of an annularworkpiece;

c. a second work-engaging member having two portions projectingoutwardly with respect to said one side of said base and on oppositesides of said first member for engagement with the exterior of anannular workpiece;

. means for effecting relative movement of said first and second membersbetween a position wherein an annular workpiece is firmly engagedbetween said first and second members and a position wherein an annularworkpiece may be removed from or placed between said first and secondmembers;

e. a third work-engaging member having an end portion disposed forsupporting a second workpiece;

f. means for effecting movement of said third member with respect tosaid base, and to said first and second members, to move said secondworkpiece into engagement with an annular workpiece held by said firstand second work-engaging members; and

g. means for releasably locking the relative positions of said first andsecond members, and for releasably locking the position of said thirdmember with respect to said base.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first member extendsfixedly from an anchored position on said base and said second member ismovable with respect thereto.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said second member ismounted on a first arm pivotally attached to said base at a point to oneside of said first and second portions of said second member.

4. The invention according to claim 3 and further including biasingmeans urging said first arm toward pivotal movement in a directionwherein said second member is moved into engagement with an annularworkpiece positioned on said first member.

5. The invention according to claim 4 and further including a handlepivotally1 mounted on said base adacent said first arm, and avmg aportion engageable with said first arm to effect'movement thereof in adirection wherein said second member is moved away from engagement withan annular workpiece positioned on said first member.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said means for releasablylocking the relative positions of said first and second members comprisea screw extending through a slot in said first arm and threaded intosaid base, said first arm being frictionally engaged between said baseand a portion of said screw when the latter is tightened.

7. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said third member isreciprocally movable in a straight line and said end portion thereofincludes an essentially flat surface in a plane normal to said line.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said third member ismounted on guide means which define said path.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein the position of said guidemeans is adjustably mounted upon said base.

10. The invention according to claim 7 and further including a secondarm pivotally attached to said base and having a portion engaged withsaid third member to effect linear movement thereofin response topivotal movement of said second arm.

11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said means forreleasably locking the position of said third member with respect tosaid base comprise a screw extending through a slot in said second armand threaded into said base, said second arm being frictionally betweensaid base and a portion of said screw when the latter is tightened.

12. The invention according to claim 10 and further including a handleextending fixedly from said base adjacent an end portion of said secondarm and so disposed with respect thereto that manual engagement of bothsaid handle and said second arm end portion, and moving the tworelatively toward one another effects movement of said third membertoward said first and second members.

13. The invention according to claim 12 wherein said base includes twoopposing extremities with a space therebetween, and said first andsecond members are mounted adjacent one of said extremities and saidthird member is mounted adjacent the other.

1. A mounting fixture for holding two initially separate workpieces incontact as operations are performed thereon, one of said workpiecesbeing of annular configuration, said fixture comprising: a. a base; b. afirst work-engaging member projecting outwardly with respect to one sideof said base for engagement with the interior of an annular workpiece;c. a second work-engaging member having two portions projectingoutwardly with respect to said one side of said base and on oppositesides of said first member for engagement with the exterior of anannular workpiece; d. means for effecting relative movement of saidfirst and second members between a position wherein an annular workpieceis firmly engaged between said first and second members and a positionwherein an annular workpiece may be removed from or placed between saidfirst and second members; e. a third work-engaging member having an endportion disposed for supporting a second workpiece; f. means foreffecting movement of said third member with respect to said base, andto said first and second members, to move said second workpiece intoengagement with an annular workpiece held by said first and secondwork-engaging members; and g. means for releasably locking the relativepositions of said first and second members, and for releasably lockingthe position of said third member with respect to said base.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein said first member extends fixedlyfrom an anchored position on said base and said second member is movablewith respect thereto.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein saidsecond member is mounted on a first arm pivotally attached to said baseat a point to one side of said first and second portions of said secondmember.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 and further includingbiasing means urging said first arm toward pivotal movement in adirection wherein said second member is moved into engagement with anannular workpiece positioned on said first member.
 5. The inventionaccording to claim 4 and further including a handle pivotally mounted onsaid base adjacent said first arm, and having a portion engageable withsaid first arm to effect movement thereof in a direction wherein saidsecond member is moved away from engagement with an annular workpiecepositioned on said first member.
 6. The invention according to claim 5wherein said means for releasably locking the relative positions of saidfirst and second members comprise a screw extending through a slot insaid first arm and threaded into said base, said first arm beingfrictionally engaged between said base and a portion of said screw whenthe latter is tightened.
 7. The invention according to claim 3 whereinsaid third member is reciprocally movable in a straight line and saidend portion thereof includes an essentially flat surface in a planenormal to said line.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein saidthird member is mounted on guide means which define said path.
 9. Theinvention according to claim 8 wherein the position of said guide meansis adjustably mounted upon said base.
 10. The invention according toclaim 7 and further including a second arm pivotally attached to saidbase and having a portion engaged with said third member to effectlinear movement thereof in response to pivotal movement oF said secondarm.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said means forreleasably locking the position of said third member with respect tosaid base comprise a screw extending through a slot in said second armand threaded into said base, said second arm being frictionally betweensaid base and a portion of said screw when the latter is tightened. 12.The invention according to claim 10 and further including a handleextending fixedly from said base adjacent an end portion of said secondarm and so disposed with respect thereto that manual engagement of bothsaid handle and said second arm end portion, and moving the tworelatively toward one another effects movement of said third membertoward said first and second members.
 13. The invention according toclaim 12 wherein said base includes two opposing extremities with aspace therebetween, and said first and second members are mountedadjacent one of said extremities and said third member is mountedadjacent the other.